“Let me say this loud and clear: the success of your family engagement efforts doesn’t depend on the meeting—it depends on everything besides the meeting.”

That’s what Ernesto Mejía’s monthly Facebook Live focused on, because far too often, we spend all our energy prepping slides, securing snacks, and printing flyers… and we forget to ask the most important question: What’s the purpose of this family engagement meeting?

And no, I don’t mean the topic. I mean why are we holding this family engagement meeting? What are we solving for our families? Why should they care? Why should they come? What’s in it for them? If we can’t answer that clearly, we shouldn’t be surprised when the turnout is low or the energy is flat.

Relationships Come First—Always

Family engagement is built before the invitation goes out. If all your interactions with parents are transactional—”Can you volunteer?” “Can you attend?” “Can you donate?”—then we’re not building a relationship. We’re making a request.

Get to know your families. Ask about their kids. Talk about the neighborhood. Show up to a local event. Relationships aren’t built during a PowerPoint—they’re built in the hallway, at pickup, through a quick conversation that has nothing to do with school.

Teachers, Admins, We Need You Too

You can’t say family engagement is essential and then ghost every meeting. Whether it’s helping with planning, presenting, or even just showing up and saying hello—presence matters.

Some schools get creative—mascots, welcome videos, pep rallies—and I love that. But what I care about most is this: did we invite our team to be part of this beforethe day of the event? Did we set people up to shine in ways that work for them?

Don’t Do It Alone—Seek Support

You are surrounded by people who wantto help: coaches, speech teachers, community organizations, local businesses, alumni parents, the folks at the YMCA, the consulate. Invite them in. Let them witness your work. When they see the impact, they’ll bring resources, knowledge, and new energy.

But that only happens when you build the relationship beforeyou ask them to present. The same rules apply here: don’t just reach out when you need something. Build together.

Your Marketing Needs a Makeover

Here’s the truth: if you’re using the same flyer from five years ago and expecting different results… it might be time to freshen things up.

Marketing is storytelling. Create a buzz. Use student voices. Let teachers and parents share their own testimonials. Tease your next event. Drop a mystery guest. Share a countdown. Post behind-the-scenes clips.

If TikTok can sell you vitamins in 30 seconds, you can sell a school meeting in 15.

Bring the Fun Back

If no one’s saying “That was actually fun” on the way out of your event… we missed a big opportunity.

Fun doesn’t mean fluff. It means families feel good about showing up. It means they laugh. It means their kids want to come back. Music. Cheerleaders. Games. Giveaways. Even karaoke. (Yes, I said it.)

Plan something that makes people want to stay. Then plan again to make them want to come back.

The takeaway I want you to have is that you don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be intentional.

Everything besides the meeting is what builds the buzz, the relationships, the community. When we plan with purpose, invite with care, and lead with joy—families show up. And when they show up, our schools grow stronger.

Let’s get to work.

At CoolSpeak, we believe that real family engagement starts with heart, trust, and strategy—and no one embodies that more than Ernesto Mejía. As a proud son of immigrants, seasoned educator, and national family engagement expert, Ernesto brings powerful stories, practical tools, and high-energy workshops that leave a lasting impact. Whether you’re looking to train your staff, connect with families, or reimagine your engagement approach, Ernesto can help you build relationships that go beyond the meeting.

Want to bring Ernesto to your school or district? Connect with us today to learn how CoolSpeak can support your next event, training, or initiative.